Anyone here have any experience with it yet? <br><br>I was goofing around with Word for a bit today, and I have to say that I like the feel of it. I can't give any better feedback than that at this early juncture (it's only been a few hours), but so far, so good.<br><br>There is one thing though, that I'd like to address: Upon completing my first document, I discovered that I wasn't able to print it because my Cannon inkjet was out of an ink cartridge (imagine that: an inkjet printer out of ink?). So I emailed the document to my father who just happened to have received an all-in-one laser/copier/scanner as a gift from me this past Christmas, and I was excited to see how it did.<br><br>Well lo and behold-- the document was saved by default in the Office Open XML format (.docx) rather than the .doc format that we have all become used to ever since file extensions became normal on Macs. This format could not be opened on my father's machine which was loaded with what was the latest version of Office only a week ago.<br><br>No problem. I just saved my document ("Save as") in the old format and resent it.<br><br>The thing is... one would think that there would be better backwards compatibility, right? Not everyone is going to run out and get Office right away, and there will most definitely be problems, I think. How many here were already familiar with this issue? Is this old news? I'm pretty shocked that I discovered it the way I did.<br><br>

The Windows version of Office '07 does the same thing. It's a real pain for those who have older versions and can't open the files. Microsoft has a beta reader available for download on their site, but it's really a pain that they did this. Grrrrr. For a company to upgrade costs big bucks and is only going to further drive more people into using open source, IMO. Big mistake on Microsoft's part. <br><br>

Early last year, we interviewed a PhD candidate for a job. He proudly brought a Power Point presentation to show us as part of his interview. The problem is, he was an early adopter of Office 2007. At our place we were not permitted to move to Office 2007 yet (still are not), so he could not show his presentation. Very embarrassing!!<br><br>I've been bitten by the incompatibility already. Late last year, one of my scouts sent an Eagle project workbook for review that he had saved by default in .docx format. I think his family had just bought a new PC. I explained to him that few people and almost no businesses had adopted Office 2007 at that time, and that on the Mac, Office 2008 was not expected for months. I requested that he save his workbook in .doc format and resend. He did that and everything was fine. Since then, Microsoft has posted some docx file converters.<br><br>I haven't decided my course of action yet. At work, I receive spreadsheets containing sorting macros several times a week. Failing to provide VBA support in Office 2008 for Mac is one of the most dunderheaded moves I've seen out of Microsoft for a long time. Either that, or a stroke of genius for killing off Office on the Mac. So, I may get Office 2008 for new format compatibility and format conversion, and keep Office 2004 to open macro enabled documents, or I may just get Office 2007 to use under XP on Parallels, or I may get Neo-Office. I hear that the volunteers who develop Neo-Office have been able to do what Microsoft could (or would) not, and provide new format compatibility, and macro capability.<br><br>If I didn't receive so many Office documents at home, and require cross platform compatibility (such as it is now) at work, I'd chuck Office. As I say, I haven't decided what avenue to take yet.<br><br>/vent<br><br>Who serves his fellows, is of his fellows greatest - Chingachgook (by legend) <br><br>Scout

_________________________Who serves his fellows, is of his fellows greatest - Chingachgook (by legend)Scout

If you ever run into a problem like what ScoutX reports, please keep in mind that you can always use this site to convert the document to whatever format you want. It's really convenient for emergencies.<br><br>&#63743; &#63743; &#63743; &#63743;

Isn't it funny that Apple's Pages program can open the new format, but MS's own (though older) software can't. You would THINK they would make some kind of plug-in you could install into older versions of Office to allow them to read the new files.<br><br>

I've been trying out Word/Excel 2008 myself-- and it's true that the first time I launched each app, it took a long time, very slow, but as I saw on the splashscreen, the apps were "optimising" the font menus and other preferences. Sencond time I lauched, it was MUCH quicker. But yeah, IMHO, I haven't noticed much of a speed boost so far from the new version versus the older 2004 version running in Rosetta...<br><br>The new interface also need a little getting used to, and I don't know if it's a bad thing to say this here, but I somehow find the overall look a little too much Apple/Mac look and feel-like. I mean, this is a Microsoft app, after all! Just the app's preferences... I mean, ok, wow.<br><br>I've still kept Office 2004 for now... I'll see if Office 2008 grows on me or not. <br><br><br><br>My Wii: 5721 8516 7937 9434 (PM me if you Wii)

BTW, you can easily set up in the Word 2008 preferences what default filetype you want your documents saved, that is, either the new (uncompatible with prior versions) Open XML-based ".docx" or the good-old, more compatible ".doc" format. It's in the Preferences--> "Save" pref pane.<br><br><br>My Wii: 5721 8516 7937 9434 (PM me if you Wii)

<blockquote><font size=1>In reply to:</font><hr><p>you can easily set up in the Word 2008 preferences...the good-old, more compatible ".doc" format.<p><hr></blockquote><p>I might do that. But what am I missing? MicroSoft must have had a reason for switching, right? IÕm not going to loose any sleep over it, but it does make me wonder.<br><br>You mention how ÒMac-LikeÓ the new Word is. You are so right- itÕs scary. IÕve never had a M$ program that behavied with such feel. IÕm really kind of psyched-- since I canÕt seem to break away from Office.<br><br>There are very few practical reasons why I shouldnÕt be able to use Pages. IÕve toyed with it here and there and I like the simplicity of it. ItÕs just that as a long time Mac user (and having been ÒpersecutedÓ for being such in a PC world), IÕve always been able to rub MS Office in the face of those who are inclined to tell me to get a ÒrealÓ computer--- anyone remember those days? It would feel good to make the leap to Pages, but something is holding me back.<br><br>Anyone here use Pages as a default word processsor? Is there any reason why one might not?<br><br>

Xplain's use of MacNews, AppleCentral and AppleExpo are not affiliated with Apple, Inc. MacTech is a registered trademark of Xplain Corporation. AppleCentral, MacNews, Xplain, "The journal of Apple technology", Apple Expo, Explain It, MacDev, MacDev-1, THINK Reference, NetProfessional, MacTech Central, MacTech Domains, MacForge, and the MacTutorMan are trademarks or service marks of Xplain Corp. Sprocket is a registered trademark of eSprocket Corp. Other trademarks and copyrights appearing in this printing or software remain the property of their respective holders.

All contents are Copyright 1984-2010 by Xplain Corporation. All rights reserved. Theme designed by Icreon.